Apparatus, system, and method for vending, charging, and two-way distribution of electrical energy storage devices

ABSTRACT

A two-way distribution, charging, and vending system permits a subscriber to exchange one or more partially or completely discharged portable electric energy storage devices for a comparable number of charged portable electric energy storage devices. The two-way distribution, charging, and vending system includes a number of charging modules, each with a dedicated power converter, communicably coupled to at least one two-way distribution system controller and to a power distribution grid. Upon receipt of a discharged portable electric energy storage device, the at least one two-way distribution system controller validates a manufacturer identifier and a subscriber identifier stored in a nontransitory storage media carried by the discharged portable electric energy storage device. Responsive to a successful authentication and validation, the at least one two-way distribution system controller dispenses a charged portable electric energy storage device to the subscriber.

BACKGROUND Technical Field

The present disclosure generally relates to the vending, charging, andtwo-way distribution of electrical energy storage devices.

Description of the Related Art

Electric powered vehicles are gaining in popularity worldwide. One ofthe primary impediments to widespread acceptance of electric or batterypowered vehicles is the ready availability of charged portableelectrical energy storage devices to avoid leaving drivers stranded forextended periods while recharging. This issue is particularly acute inregions and areas that are susceptible to interruptions in electricaldistribution and/or delivery. Providing a readily available source ofcharged portable electric storage devices in a number of convenientlocations may ameliorate the worries of many drivers and may foster thewidespread acceptance of electric vehicles, particularly in highlycongested urban areas. Adoption of electric vehicle technology on awidespread basis may assist in improving air quality in regions wherevehicle and other minimally regulated mobile emission sources areprevalent.

BRIEF SUMMARY

The Applicants have advantageously developed a vehicle, e.g., scooterpowered by modular portable electrical energy storage devices. A networkof portable electric energy storage device two-way distribution,charging, and vending systems positioned throughout an area supports thevehicles by exchanging discharged or depleted portable electrical energystorage devices for charged portable electrical energy storage devices.By reducing the recharging process to a simple, “drop off a dischargedbattery and pick up a charged battery” concept, drivers receive a senseof reassurance similar to that provided by fossil fuel stations infossil fueled vehicles. Each of the two-way distribution, charging, andvending systems may optionally provide additional services that improveor enhance the sense of value to drivers. For example, a two-waydistribution, charging, and vending system may have ability to performone or more diagnostic procedures on a vehicle and provide output to thedriver indicative of the results of the diagnostic procedures.

In a typical example, a driver acquires a vehicle powered by one or moreportable electrical energy storage devices and subscribes to a planoffered by the vehicle manufacturer or portable electrical energystorage device supplier that permits the two-way exchange of depleted orpartially/completely discharged portable electrical energy storagedevices at any two-way distribution, charging, and vending system withinthe manufacturer's network. Such two-way distribution, charging, andvending systems can be positioned at any point where electrical powerand wired or wireless communications capabilities are available.

The two-way distribution, charging, and vending system includes at leastone at least one two-way distribution system controller, a powerdistribution system, at least one communications interface, and a rigidstructure that includes a number of receptacles or “buckets.” Each ofthe buckets can accept a slideably insertable power converter modulethat converts power supplied by a power distribution system (e.g.,public or private power grid, solar cell or other renewable energysources) to a form and voltage suitable for charging a portable electricenergy storage device. Each of the buckets can further accept theslideable insertion of a charging module which is electricallyconductively coupled to and receives power from the modular powerconverter and is wiredly or wirelessly communicably coupled to the atleast one two-way distribution system controller.

A subscriber inserts a partially or completely discharged portableelectrical energy storage device into a first (empty) charging module inthe two-way distribution, charging, and vending system. Upon receipt ofthe portable electrical energy storage device from the subscriber, thetwo-way distribution system controller authenticates the portableelectrical energy storage device by reading a manufacturer identifierstored in a nontransitory storage media carried by the portable electricenergy storage device. The controller also validates a subscriberidentifier read from the nontransitory storage media carried by theportable electric energy storage device provided by the subscriber toconfirm the subscription is current and to determine any services towhich the subscriber may be entitled.

After authenticating the portable electrical energy storage device andvalidating the subscriber, the controller unlocks/releases one or morecharged portable electrical energy storage devices from one or moresecond charging modules. The subscriber is able to remove the chargedportable electrical energy storage device from the second chargingmodule. The time required to perform such an exchange is minimal and isadvantageously comparable to the time required to fill a conventionalvehicle's fuel tank.

A number of charging modules are inserted into buckets in the two-waydistribution, charging, and vending system. Each of the charging modulesis equipped with one or more modular connectors or interfaces thatcommunicably couple the charging module to the power distribution system(e.g., busses and laterals) upon seating within the bucket. Each of thecharging modules is further equipped with at least one of a wired or awireless communications module that autonomously wiredly or wirelesslycommunicably couples to the two-way distribution system controller uponseating the charging module into the bucket.

The modular design of the charging modules eliminates the need tofield-service a malfunctioning charging module, a significant advantagein areas where inclement weather is common and access to electronicdiagnostic tools is limited. Each charging module is electricallyisolated from every other charging module in the two-way distribution,charging, and vending system, thus a failure of a single charging moduledoes not adversely affect the operation of other charging modules or thetwo-way distribution, charging, and vending system as a whole. Thetwo-way distribution, charging, and vending systems may include amodular construction that enables the modules to be physically,electrically, and communicably linked to form a two-way distribution,charging, and vending system having any number of charging modules. Suchmodular construction is advantageous to accommodate an increasing numberof users in a minimally disruptive manner (i.e., two-way distribution,charging, and vending systems are not replaced, but are instead expandedto accommodate subscriber growth).

The charging module incorporates a displaceable housing door. Springs orother biasing members bias the displaceable housing door toward theentrance of the charging module. The displaceable housing doorincorporates or seats against a weatherproof seal that limits orprevents the ingress of rainwater, dust, and dirt into the chargingmodule. The act of inserting the portable electrical energy storagedevice displaces the housing door along a longitudinal axis of thecharging module. An aperture on the housing door permits a locking hubin the base of the charging module to pass through the displaceable doorand engage a complimentary cavity on the portable electrical energystorage device, securing the portable electrical energy storage devicein the charging module. The aperture also permits the passage of anumber of electrical contacts to engage a complimentary number ofelectrical contacts on the portable electrical energy storage device,thereby permitting the flow of current from the two-way distribution,charging, and vending system to the portable electrical energy storagedevice.

Upon insertion of a portable electrical energy storage device in acharging module, the two-way distribution system controller performsvarious diagnostic tests to confirm the utility and safety of theportable electrical energy storage device. For example, the two-waydistribution, charging, and vending system may determine whether therecently received portable electrical energy storage device is able tohold an acceptable charge level. If the two-way distribution systemcontroller determines an inserted portable electrical energy storagedevice is unsuitable for continued use, the two-way distribution systemcontroller may lock the portable electrical energy storage device intothe charging module.

The two-way distribution system controller may optionally communicateone or more messages via a wired (e.g., plain old telephone service orPOTS) or wireless (e.g., GSM or CDMA cellular communication or IEEE802.11 WiFi) communications interface to a back-end system. The two-waydistribution system controller may also provide environmental control(e.g., cooling, heating, dehumidification) within individual chargingmodules and/or within individual portable electrical energy storagedevices inserted into charging modules to ensure the portable electricalenergy storage devices are maintained at an optimal temperature duringthe charging process.

A charging module to charge portable electric energy storage devices maybe summarized as including a housing dimensioned to accommodate the atleast partial insertion of a portable energy storage device along alongitudinal axis of the housing into an interior space formed by aperipheral housing wall joined to a base; a number of electric contactsprojecting from the base at least partially into the interior space ofthe housing; a displaceable, (e.g., a rotatably displaceable), lockingmechanism projecting from the base at least partially into the interiorspace of the housing; an entrance joined to the peripheral housing wallopposite the base, the entrance including an orifice connecting theinterior space of the housing to an exterior space about the housing,the perimeter of the orifice closely corresponding to at least onephysical aspect of the portable energy storage device casing; a housingdoor operably coupled to and positioned in the interior of the housing,the housing door axially displaceable along the longitudinal axis of thehousing from a first position perpendicular to the housing wall andproximate the orifice to at least a second position perpendicular to thehousing wall and proximate the base of the housing; an apertureconcentric with the longitudinal axis of the housing through the housingdoor, the aperture to accommodate the passage of at least a portion ofthe locking mechanism and at least a portion of the number of electriccontacts when the housing door is displaced to the second position; andat least one biasing element operably coupling the door to the base, theat least one biasing element biasing the housing door towards the firstposition.

The charging module may further include a displaceable cover disposedproximate the aperture and displaceable from a closed position in whichthe aperture is occluded, to an open position in which the aperture isunobstructed, the cover operably coupled to the housing door and to thehousing such that as the housing door is displaced from the firstposition to the second position, the cover is displaced from the closedposition to the open position.

The charging module may further include an actuator coupled to thelocking mechanism, the actuator causing a displacement of the lockingmechanism responsive to a receipt of the portable energy storage devicecasing in the interior space of the housing.

The charging module may further include a modular electrical interfaceelectrically conductively coupled to the number of electric contactsprojecting from the base of the housing into the interior space of thehousing. Each of the number of electric contacts may be positionedconcentric to the longitudinal axis of the housing and electricallyisolated from any other of the number of electric contacts. Each of thenumber of electric contacts may include a circularly annular electriccontact positioned concentric to the longitudinal axis of the housingand electrically isolated from any other of the number of electriccontacts. Each of the number of electric contacts may include at leastone of: a polygonally annular electric contact or a rounded polygonallyannular electric contact, each electric contact positioned concentric tothe longitudinal axis of the housing and electrically isolated from anyother of the number of electric contacts. The number of electriccontacts may form an electrically continuous circuit with acorresponding number of externally accessible electric contacts on theportable electric energy storage device casing when a portable electricenergy storage device is inserted in the housing. The number of electriccontacts may form an electrically continuous circuit with acorresponding number of electric contacts on an exterior surface of theportable energy storage device casing independent of the rotation of theportable energy storage device casing about the longitudinal axis of thehousing. The locking mechanism may be positioned radially concentric tothe number of electric contacts and is electrically isolated from thenumber of electric contacts. The displaceable cover may include arotatably displaceable cover; and the rotatably displaceable cover mayrotates from the closed position to the open position as the housingdoor is displaced from the first position to the second position. Thedisplaceable cover may include a slideably displaceable cover; and theslideably displaceable cover may slides from the closed position to theopen position as the housing door is displaced from the first positionto the second position. A central region of the housing door may includea depression symmetric about two orthogonal transverse axes, the twoorthogonal transverse axes mutually orthogonal to the longitudinal axisof the housing, the depression corresponding to a projecting portion ofthe portable energy storage device casing.

The charging module may further include a portable electrical energystorage device thermal control system that includes: at least one inputchannel communicably coupled to at least one two-way distribution systemcontroller, the at least one input channel to receive an input signalfrom a portable electrical energy storage device inserted in therespective housing, the input signal including digital datarepresentative of an internal temperature of the portable electricalenergy storage device inserted in the respective charging module; atleast one output channel communicably coupled to the at least onetwo-way distribution system controller, the at least one output channelto provide an output signal to at least one of a temperature controlsubsystem or a temperature control device to maintain the internaltemperature of the portable electrical energy storage device inserted inthe respective charging module in a defined range at least whilecharging the portable electrical energy storage device.

A method of operating a portable electrical energy storage devicecharging and two-way distribution system may be summarized as includingaccepting the insertion of a first portable electrical energy storagedevice into a first of a number of charging modules, each of the numberof charging modules bidirectionally communicably coupled to at least onetwo-way distribution system controller; reading data from one or morenon-transitory storage media carried by the first portable electricalenergy storage device via a communications interface communicablycoupled to the at least one two-way distribution system controller;authenticating a first portion of the data read from the one or morenon-transitory storage media carried by the portable electrical energystorage device, using the at least one two-way distribution systemcontroller; validating a second portion of the data read from the one ormore non-transitory storage media carried by the portable electricalenergy storage device, using the at least one two-way distributionsystem controller; and responsive to successfully authenticating thefirst portion of the data and responsive to successfully validating thesecond portion of the data: writing the second portion of data read fromthe one or more non-transitory storage media carried by the firstportable electrical energy storage device to one or more non-transitorystorage media carried by a second portable electrical energy storagedevice inserted in a second of the number of charging modules, by the atleast one two-way distribution system controller; and allowing theremoval of the second portable electrical energy storage device from asecond of the number of charging modules. Accepting the insertion of afirst portable electrical energy storage device into a first of a numberof charging modules may include accepting the at least partial insertionof the first portable electrical energy storage device into the first ofthe number of charging modules; locking the first portable electricenergy storage device to the first of the number of charging modules byautonomously displacing a locking hub to a first (locked) position inwhich a portable electric energy storage device inserted into the firstof the number of charging modules cannot be removed; and allowing theremoval of the second portable electrical energy storage device from asecond of the number of charging modules may include unlocking thesecond portable electric energy storage device from the second of thenumber of charging modules by autonomously displacing a locking hub to asecond (unlocked) position in which a portable electric energy storagedevice can be removed from the second of the number of charging modules.Autonomously displacing the locking hub to a first (locked) position mayinclude rotatably displacing the locking hub in the first of the numberof charging modules from the first (locked) position as the firstportable electrical energy storage device is inserted into the first ofthe number of charging modules; and autonomously rotatably returning thelocking hub to the first (locked) position via one or more biasingmembers after the first portable electrical energy storage device isinserted into the first of the number of charging modules. Autonomouslydisplacing the locking hub to a second (unlocked) position may includeautonomously displacing an actuator from a first position to a secondposition, the displacement of the actuator from the first position tothe second position sufficient to cause a corresponding displacement ofthe operably coupled locking hub in the second of the number of chargingmodules from the first (locked) position to the second (unlocked)position. Allowing the insertion of a first portable electrical energystorage device into a first of a number of charging modules may includeaccepting the at least partial insertion of the first portableelectrical energy storage device into the first of the number ofcharging modules such that a perimeter of the first of the number ofcharging modules accommodates a perimeter of a casing disposed about thefirst portable electrical energy storage device regardless of anorientation of the casing about a longitudinal axis of the casing whenthe longitudinal axis of the casing and a longitudinal axis of thecharging module are collinear.

The method may further include reading data indicative of one or moreoperational aspects of an external device powered by the first portableelectrical energy storage device from the one or more non-transitorystorage media carried by the first portable electrical energy storagedevice via the communications interface communicably coupled to the atleast one two-way distribution system controller; generating datarepresentative of a display output for presentation on one or moreoutput devices communicably coupled to the at least one two-waydistribution system controller; and erasing the data indicative of oneor more operational aspects of the external device powered by the firstportable electrical energy storage device from the one or morenon-transitory storage media carried by the first portable electricalenergy storage device via the communications interface communicablycoupled to the at least one two-way distribution system controller.Validating a second portion of the data read from the one or morenon-transitory storage media carried by the portable electrical energystorage device may include communicating the second portion of the dataread from the one or more non-transitory storage media carried by theportable electrical energy storage device to one or more back-endsystems, by the at least one two-way distribution controller; confirmingthe validity of the second portion of the data read from the one or morenon-transitory storage media carried by the portable electrical energystorage device by the at least one back-end system; and responsive tosuccessfully validating the second portion of the data read from the oneor more non-transitory storage media carried by the portable electricalenergy storage device by the back-end system, communicating a messageindicative of a successful validation to the at least one two-waydistribution controller. Confirming the validity of the second portionof the data read from the one or more non-transitory storage mediacarried by the portable electrical energy storage device by the at leastone back-end system may include confirming at least a subscription planlogically associated with subscriber identification data included in thesecond portion of the data read from the one or more non-transitorystorage media carried by the portable electrical energy storage device.Accepting the insertion of a first portable electrical energy storagedevice into a first of a number of charging modules may includeaccepting the at least partial insertion of the first portableelectrical energy storage device into the first of the number ofcharging modules; and allowing the removal of the second portableelectrical energy storage device from a second of the number of chargingmodules may include locking the first portable electric energy storagedevice to the first of the number of charging modules by autonomouslydisplacing a locking hub to a first (locked) position in which aportable electric energy storage device inserted into the first of thenumber of charging modules cannot be removed; and unlocking the secondportable electric energy storage device from the second of the number ofcharging modules by autonomously displacing a locking hub to a second(unlocked) position in which a portable electric energy storage devicecan be removed from the second of the number of charging modules.Accepting the at least partial insertion of the first portableelectrical energy storage device into the first of the number ofcharging modules may include autonomously displacing an actuator from afirst position to a second position sufficient to cause the displacementof the operably coupled locking hub in the first of the number ofcharging modules from the first (locked) position to the second(unlocked) position, and autonomously maintaining the actuator in thesecond position to maintain the locking hub in the second (unlocked)position; and preventing the removal of the first portable electricalenergy storage device from the first of the number of charging modulesby engaging a locking hub in the first of the number of charging modulesautonomously displacing the actuator from the second position to thefirst position sufficient to cause the displacement of the operablycoupled locking hub in the first of the number of charging modules fromthe second (locked) position to the first (unlocked) position, andautonomously maintaining the actuator in the first position therebypreventing the removal of the first portable electrical energy storagedevice from the first of the number of charging modules. Autonomouslydisplacing the actuator from the second position to the first positionmay include de-energizing the actuator and permitting at least onebiasing device to return the locking hub in the first of the number ofcharging modules from the second (unlocked) position to the first(locked) position.

The method may further include receiving, by the at least one two-waydistribution controller, at least one output signal provided by at leastone biometric sensor; and selecting by the at least one two-waydistribution controller, the second portable electrical energy storagedevice based at least in part on data included in the at least oneoutput signal provided by the at least one biometric sensor.

The method may further include responsive to unsuccessfullyauthenticating the first portion of the data or responsive tounsuccessfully validating the second portion of the data: displacing anactuator operably coupled to the locking hub in the first of the numberof charging modules from a first position to a second position tosufficient displace the locking hub in the first of the number ofcharging modules from the first (locked) position to a second (unlocked)position thereby permitting the removal of the first portable electricalenergy storage device from the first of the number of charging modules;and maintaining an actuator operably coupled to the locking hub in thesecond of the number of charging modules in a first position sufficientto maintain the locking hub in the second of the number of chargingmodules in the first (locked) position thereby preventing the removal ofthe second portable electrical energy storage device from the second ofthe number of charging modules.

A portable electrical energy storage device charging and two-waydistribution system may be summarized as including a housing thatincludes a power distribution grid and a number of buckets, each of thebuckets capable of accommodating the reversible, selective insertion ofa portable energy storage device charging module and a power convertermodule electrically conductively coupled to the power distribution gridand to the portable energy storage device charging module; a firstcommunications interface wirelessly communicably coupleable to at leastsome of a number of portable energy storage devices inserted into eachof the number of buckets and wirelessly communicably coupleable to oneor more wireless credentials carried by a system user; a secondcommunications interface communicably coupleable to at least oneback-end system; at least one non-transitory, processor-readable,storage media that stores processor-executable instructions; and atleast one two-way distribution system controller communicably coupled tothe at least one non-transitory, processor-readable storage media, theat least one two-way distribution system controller to execute theprocessor-executable instructions and in response: receive, via thefirst communications interface, data indicative of a subscriberidentifier that uniquely identifies a subscriber; transmit, via thesecond communications interface, the received data indicative of thesubscriber identifier to the back-end system; responsive to theinsertion of a number of portable energy storage devices into arespective number of unoccupied portable energy storage device chargingmodules, locks the inserted portable energy storage devices into therespective portable energy storage device charging modules; andresponsive to the receipt of data indicative of an authorization fromthe back-end system unlocks an authorized number of charged portableenergy storage devices from a respective number of occupied portableenergy storage device charging modules. The first communicationsinterface bidirectionally may transfer data with a communicationsinterface carried by a portable energy storage device powered vehicleproximate the portable electric storage device charging system. Thefirst communications interface bidirectionally may transfer vehiclespecific data with a communications interface carried by a portableenergy storage device powered vehicle proximate the portable electricstorage device charging system. The vehicle specific data may include atleast one of: vehicle specific maintenance data or vehicle specificservice data. The first communications interface bidirectionally maytransfer data with a communications interface carried by a portableenergy storage device.

The portable electrical energy storage device charging and two-waydistribution system may further include at least one biometric sensorcommunicably coupled to the at least one two-way distribution systemcontroller.

The at least one two-way distribution system controller may execute theprocessor-executable instructions and further may receive dataindicative of at least one subscriber biometric property from the atleast one biometric sensor; and responsive to the receipt of the dataindicative of at least one subscriber biometric property, mayselectively unlock an authorized number of charged portable energystorage devices from a respective number of occupied portable energystorage device charging modules.

Each portable energy storage device charging module may include ahousing dimensioned to accommodate the at least partial insertion of aportable energy storage device casing along a longitudinal axis of thehousing into an interior space formed by a peripheral housing walljoined to a base; a number of electric contacts projecting from the baseat least partially into the interior space of the housing; a lockingmechanism projecting from the base at least partially into the interiorspace of the housing; an entrance joined to the peripheral housing wallopposite the base, the entrance including an orifice connecting theinterior space of the housing to an exterior space about the housing,the perimeter of the orifice closely corresponding to at least onephysical aspect of the portable energy storage device casing; a housingdoor operably coupled to and positioned in the interior of the housing,the housing door continuously axially displaceable along at least aportion of the longitudinal axis of the housing from a first positionperpendicular to the housing wall and proximate the orifice to at leastsecond position perpendicular to the housing wall and proximate the baseof the housing; an aperture concentric with the longitudinal axis of thehousing through the housing door, the aperture to accommodate thepassage of at least a portion of the locking mechanism and at least aportion of the number of electric contacts when the housing door isdisplaced to the second position; at least one biasing element operablycoupling the door to the base, the at least one biasing element biasingthe housing door towards the first position; and a displaceable coverdisposed proximate the aperture and displaceable from a closed positionin which the aperture is occluded, to an open position in which theaperture is unobstructed, the cover operably coupled to the housing doorand to the housing such that as the housing door is displaced from thefirst position to the second position, the cover is displaced from theclosed position to the open position. Each of the buckets mayaccommodate the reversibly slideable physical insertion and removal of acharging module. Each of the buckets may accommodate the reversiblyslideable physical insertion and removal of a power converter module andthe reversibly slideable electrical conductive coupling of the powerconverter module to a power distribution grid and to the respectivecharging module inserted in the bucket.

The portable electrical energy storage device charging and two-waydistribution system may further include at least one portable electricenergy storage device temperature sensor disposed in each of thecharging modules; wherein the processor-executable instructions furthercause the at least one processor to maintain a temperature of theportable electric energy storage device received by the charging modulewithin a defined temperature range while charging the respectiveportable electric energy storage device.

A method of operating a portable electric energy storage device two-waydistribution, charging, and vending apparatus may be summarized asincluding receiving a first portable electric energy storage device in afirst of a number of charging modules communicably coupled to at leastone two-way distribution system controller; responsive to receiving thefirst portable electric energy storage device in the first of the numberof charging modules, determining a condition of the first portableelectric energy storage device by the at least one two-way distributionsystem controller; responsive to determining the condition of the firstportable electric energy storage device is acceptable for charging,initiating charging of the first portable electric energy storagedevice; and contemporaneous with charging the first portable electricenergy storage device, maintaining thermal conditions within the firstportable electric energy storage device in a defined temperature range.

The method may further include positioning an actuator operably coupledto a locking hub in the first charging module in a first positionsufficient to position the locking hub in the first charging module in afirst (locked) position thereby preventing the removal of the firstportable electric energy storage device from the first of the number ofcharging modules.

The method may further include responsive to receiving the firstportable electric energy storage device in the first of the number ofcharging modules, reading by the at least one two-way distributionsystem controller data from a nontransitory storage media carried by thefirst portable electric energy storage device. Reading by the at leastone two-way distribution system controller data from a nontransitorystorage media carried by the first portable electric energy storagedevice may include reading by the at least one two-way distributionsystem controller, data from a first, immutable, portion of thenontransitory storage media carried by the first portable electricenergy storage device, the data in the first, immutable, portion of thenontransitory storage media including data indicative of a manufacturerspecific code.

Reading by the at least one two-way distribution system controller datafrom a nontransitory storage media carried by the first portableelectric energy storage device may include reading by the at least onetwo-way distribution system controller, data from a second, rewriteable,portion of the nontransitory storage media carried by the first portableelectric energy storage device, the data in the second, rewriteable,portion of the nontransitory storage media including data indicative ofat least one subscriber identifier.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

In the drawings, identical reference numbers identify similar elementsor acts. The sizes and relative positions of elements in the drawingsare not necessarily drawn to scale. For example, the shapes of variouselements and angles are not drawn to scale, and some of these elementsare arbitrarily enlarged and positioned to improve drawing legibility.Further, the particular shapes of the elements as drawn, are notintended to convey any information regarding the actual shape of theparticular elements, and have been solely selected for ease ofrecognition in the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing an environment in which a numberof vehicles powered by portable electric energy storage devices exchangedischarged devices for charged devices at a number of two-waydistribution and vending systems, according to one illustratedembodiment.

FIG. 2A is a perspective view showing an exterior of an example two-waydistribution, charging and vending system having four (4) chargingmodules, according to one non-limiting illustrated embodiment.

FIG. 2B is a perspective view showing an interior of the example two-waydistribution, charging and vending system in FIG. 2A, with the frontcover opened exposing three (3) charging module buckets containingcharging modules and one (1) empty charging module bucket, according toone non-limiting illustrated embodiment.

FIG. 2C is a perspective view of the example two-way distribution,charging and vending system in FIG. 2A, with the front cover openedexposing a number of charging modules, in which one of the chargingmodules contains a portable electric energy storage device, according toone non-limiting illustrated embodiment.

FIG. 2D is a plan view of the bottom surface of an example portableelectric energy storage device that includes a number of locking slotsand a number of electrical charging contacts, according to onenon-limiting illustrated embodiment.

FIG. 2E is a perspective view of an illustrative charging module lockinghub that includes a number of locking members adapted to engage acorresponding number of complimentary locking slots on the portableelectric energy storage device and a number of electrical chargingcontacts adapted to conductively couple to a corresponding number ofcomplimentary electrical charging contacts on the portable electricenergy storage device depicted in FIG. 2D, according to one non-limitingillustrated embodiment.

FIG. 2F is a perspective view of an illustrative power converter moduleinsertable into the two-way distribution, charging and vending system inFIG. 2A used to convert power received from a power grid and/orrenewable energy source to direct current useful for charging a portableelectric energy storage device, according to one illustrated embodiment.

FIG. 3A is a perspective view of an example charging module, accordingto one non-limiting illustrated embodiment.

FIG. 3B is a plan view of a top of an example charging module that showsthe housing door and aperture centered on the housing door, according toone non-limiting illustrated embodiment.

FIG. 3C is a cross-sectional view along section line 3C showing thephysical and spatial relationship between the displaceable housing door,the locking hub, and the number of electrical contacts, according to onenon-limiting illustrated embodiment.

FIG. 3D is a cross-sectional view along section line 3D showing therelationship between the displaceable housing door, the locking hub, thenumber of electrical contacts, and an example aperture cover, accordingto one non-limiting illustrated embodiment.

FIG. 3E is a plan view of a bottom of an example charging module thatshows various communication and power connectors, the locking hub andthe actuator for the locking hub, according to one non-limitingillustrated embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a high-level logic flow diagram of an illustrative method ofoperating a two-way distribution, charging, and vending system forproviding portable electric energy storage devices, according to onenon-limiting illustrated embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a high-level logic flow diagram of an illustrative method ofmanaging a two-way distribution of portable electric energy storagedevices from a two-way distribution, charging, and vending system,according to one non-limiting illustrated embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a high-level logic flow diagram of an illustrative method ofdisplaying vehicle specific information retrieved from a nontransitorystorage media carried by a portable electric energy storage device thatis used in an exchange process at a two-way distribution, charging, andvending system, according to one non-limiting illustrated embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a high-level logic flow diagram of an illustrative method ofvalidating a subscriber identifier using one or more back-end systemscommunicably coupled to the two-way distribution, charging, and vendingsystem, according to one non-limiting illustrated embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a high-level logic flow diagram of an illustrative method ofcharging a first portable electric energy storage device received by atwo-way distribution, charging, and vending system, according to onenon-limiting illustrated embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following description, certain specific details are set forth inorder to provide a thorough understanding of various disclosedembodiments. However, one skilled in the relevant art will recognizethat embodiments may be practiced without one or more of these specificdetails, or with other methods, components, materials, etc. In otherinstances, well-known structures associated with controllers and/ormicroprocessors and associated programming, logic, and/or instructionsets; AC/DC power converters; buck and boost transformers; thermalcontrol systems; portable electric energy storage devices (e.g.,secondary batteries); networks and network communication protocols;wireless communications protocols; have not been shown or described indetail to avoid unnecessarily obscuring descriptions of the embodiments.

As used herein, “operational aspects” or a reference to one or more“operational aspects” of a vehicle includes the performance or functionof any combination or number of systems or devices forming all or aportion of the indicated system. For example, the operational aspects ofa vehicular system may include, but are not limited to one or more of:the vehicle cooling system; vehicle fuel system, vehicle steering ordirectional control system, vehicle suspension, vehicle electrical andignition system, vehicle drivetrain and power transmission system,vehicle powertrain or motor, vehicle exhaust or emissions, or vehiclebraking. An event impacting one or more operational aspects of a vehiclemay impact the performance or functionality of one or more of the listedsystems. In a similar manner, operational aspects of a vehicleelectrical system may include, but are not limited to the performance orfunction of one or more components normally included in a vehicleelectrical system, such as battery discharge rate, ignition, timing,electrical lamps, electrical systems, electrical instrumentation and thelike. Thus, an event impacting one or more aspects of a vehicleelectrical system may impact the performance or function of one or moreelectrical system components (e.g., limiting the discharge rate of abattery to limit vehicle speed, preventing the ignition system fromstarting the vehicle, etc.).

Unless the context requires otherwise, throughout the specification andclaims which follow, the word “comprise” and variations thereof, suchas, “comprises” and “comprising” are to be construed in an open,inclusive sense that is as “including, but not limited to.”

Reference throughout this specification to “one embodiment” or “anembodiment” means that a particular feature, structure or characteristicdescribed in connection with the embodiment is included in at least oneembodiment. Thus, the appearances of the phrases “in one embodiment” or“in an embodiment” in various places throughout this specification arenot necessarily all referring to the same embodiment.

The use of ordinals such as first, second and third does not necessarilyimply a ranked sense of order, but rather may only distinguish betweenmultiple instances of an act or structure.

Reference to portable electrical power storage device means any devicecapable of storing electrical power and releasing stored electricalpower including but not limited to batteries, supercapacitors orultracapacitors. Reference to batteries means chemical storage cell orcells, for instance rechargeable or secondary battery cells includingbut not limited to nickel cadmium alloy or lithium ion battery cells.

The headings and Abstract of the Disclosure provided herein are forconvenience only and do not interpret the scope or meaning of theembodiments.

FIG. 1 shows a schematic diagram of an illustrative portable electricenergy storage device distribution system 100 in which a number oftwo-way distribution, charging, and vending systems 110 a-110 n(collectively “two-way distribution, charging, and vending systems110”). Each of the two-way distribution, charging, and vending systems110 are capable of receiving, charging, and dispensing portable electricenergy storage devices 120 a-120 n (collectively “portable electricenergy storage device 120”) from subscribers 130 a-130 n (collectively“subscribers 130”), according to one illustrated embodiment. Each of thetwo-way distribution, charging, and vending systems 110 include anynumber of charging modules 112 a-112 n (collectively “charging modules112”). Additionally, each of the two-way distribution, charging, andvending systems 110 includes at least one two-way distribution systemcontroller 114. The two-way distribution, charging, and vending systems110 may optionally include one or more user interfaces 116 that arecommunicably coupled to the at least one two-way distribution systemcontroller 114. In some implementations, one or more networks 150communicably couple some or all of the two-way distribution systemcontrollers 114 to one or more back-end systems 160. The one or morenetworks 150 may include, but are not limited to, one or more local areanetworks (LANs); one or more wide area networks (WANs); one or moreworldwide network (e.g., the Internet) or combinations thereof.

Vehicles 140 a-140 n (collectively “vehicles 140”) may use one or moreportable electric energy storage devices 120 to provide motive power,for example through the use of an electric traction motor. Each of thevehicles 140 is associated with at least one particular subscriber 130that may include a single individual, multiple individuals, a businessor corporation, or a government entity. Based on a subscription planselected by the subscriber 130, each subscriber 130 is allocated aparticular number of portable electric energy storage devices 120 and/ora particular type of portable electric energy storage devices 120 (e.g.,standard output, high output, low capacity/short range, highcapacity/long range, and the like). A subscriber 130 exchanges aportable electric energy storage device 120 at a two-way distribution,charging, and vending system 110 by inserting an at least partiallydischarged portable electric energy storage device 120 into a firstcharging module 112 a and removing an at least partially chargedportable electric energy storage device 120 from a second chargingmodule 112 b. The two-way distribution, charging, and vending system 110allocates the at least partially charged portable electric energystorage devices 120 to a subscriber 130 based at least in part on thesubscription plan selected by the respective subscriber 130.

Each portable electric energy storage device 120 carries a nontransitorystorage media 122. At times, manufacturer specific data associated withthe portable electric energy storage device 120 may be retained within afirst portion of the nontransitory storage media 122 carried by each ofthe portable electric energy storage devices 120. In some instances, thefirst portion of the nontransitory storage media 122 may be immutable orotherwise non-rewriteable. In some instances, the manufacturer specificdata may be encoded, encrypted, or otherwise rendered unreadable orunintelligible. At times, subscriber identification data associated withthe portable electric energy storage device 120 may be retained within asecond portion of the nontransitory storage media 122 carried by each ofthe portable electric energy storage devices 120. In some instances, thesecond portion of the nontransitory storage media 122 may berewriteable, for example by the two-way distribution, charging, andvending two-way distribution system 110.

The two-way distribution, charging, and vending system 110advantageously provides a subscriber 130 with the ability to obtaincharged portable electric energy storage devices 120 on an as-needed oron-demand basis, contingent upon the subscription plan selected by andlogically associated with the respective subscriber 130. The chargingmodules 112 a-112 n are each capable of accepting the insertion of asingle portable electric energy storage device 120. Once inserted intothe charging module 112, the portable electric energy storage device 120is locked into or otherwise securely retained in the charging module 112and charged under defined, controlled, conditions established andmaintained by the two-way distribution system controller 114. Thetwo-way distribution system controller 114 may cause a display on the atleast one user interface 116 of subscription information, subscriptionupgrade offers, other offers, diagnostic information regarding theirexchanged portable electric energy storage device 120, diagnosticinformation regarding the subscriber's vehicle 140, or combinationsthereof.

The two-way distribution system controller 114 may be communicablycoupled via network 150 to one or more back-end systems 160. Thecommunicable coupling between the two-way distribution system controller114 and the back-end system 160 may include a wired communicablecoupling (e.g., via Ethernet, plain old telephone service, and the like)or wireless communicable coupling (e.g., via cellular connection such asGSM, CDMA, or via a wireless network connection such as IEEE 802.11,Internet, and the like) or combinations thereof. In some instances, thetwo-way distribution system controller 114 may have multiplecommunicable couplings (e.g., one connection via terrestrial wired POTSand a second via wireless cellular or satellite) with the back-endsystem 160 to provide redundant and/or failover communicationscapabilities.

In some implementations, the two-way distribution, charging, and vendingsystem 110 may optionally include any number of input/output (I/O)devices. Such I/O devices communicate data read or otherwise obtained bythe I/O device to the two-way distribution system controller 114. Forexample, a cash or currency (i.e., bill, coin, and/or token) acceptormay be communicably coupled to the two-way distribution systemcontroller 114 to permit the acceptance of cash payments (i.e.,point-of-sale or subscription payments) at the two-way distribution,charging, and vending two-way distribution system 110. In anotherexample, a magnetic stripe reader may be communicably coupled to thetwo-way distribution system controller 114 to permit the acceptance ofcredit and/or debit card payments and also to permit the use ofsubscriber identification cards with the two-way distribution, charging,and vending two-way distribution system 110. In another example, a nearfield communication (NFC) or other similar short-range wirelesscommunications interface may be communicably coupled to the two-waydistribution system controller 114. Such short-range wirelesscommunication interfaces permit the two-way distribution systemcontroller to 114 obtain data from subscriber identification tokens(e.g., keyfobs, cards, medallions, or the like) and/or vehicleinformation (e.g., maintenance, service, and similar diagnosticinformation) from the subscriber's vehicle 140.

The two-way distribution system controller 114 may provide operationalor maintenance information to the back-end system 160 thereby permittingautonomous repair/replacement scheduling capabilities. For example, thetwo-way distribution system controller 114 may communicate dataindicative of a faulty charging module, power converter, or portableelectric energy storage device 120 to the back-end system 160. In someimplementations, the back-end system 160 may perform limitedtroubleshooting of identified malfunctioning two-way distribution,charging, and vending system 110 components. For example, the back-endsystem 160 may reboot or otherwise restart the two-way distributionsystem controller 114 and/or one or more identified malfunctioningcomponents. In another instance, the two-way distribution systemcontroller 114 may communicate data representative of operating,maintenance, and/or fault conditions (e.g., in the form of fault codes,QR codes, temperatures, operational currents, operational voltages, andthe like) to the back-end system 160 thereby permitting the timelydispatch of repair personnel to the two-way distribution system 110. Insome implementations, the back-end system 160 may selectively disablemalfunctioning two-way distribution system components in order topreserve other functional components in a stable operating state. Forexample, the two-way distribution system controller 114 and/or back-endsystem 160 may disconnect a charging module 112 a suffering a highcurrent fault condition from the power distribution network within thetwo-way distribution, charging, and vending system 110 to permit theoperation of other function charging modules 112 b-112 n.

In some instances, the back-end system 160 may retain data indicative ofthe subscription plan associated with each respective one of thesubscribers 130 a-130 n. In such instances, the two-way distributionsystem controller 114 reads the subscriber identification dataassociated with the portable electric energy storage device 120 from thesecond portion of the nontransitory storage media 122 carried by each ofthe portable electric energy storage devices 120 and communicates atleast some of the read data to the back-end system 160. The back-endsystem 160 validates or otherwise confirms the subscriber identificationdata provided by the two-way distribution system controller 114. Theback-end system 160, communicates data indicative of a successful orunsuccessful validation of the subscriber identification information tothe two-way distribution system controller 114. Responsive to receipt ofdata indicative of a successful validation, the two-way distributionsystem controller 114 may cause the two-way distribution, charging, andvending system 110 to discharge or otherwise dispense one or moreportable electric energy storage devices 120 to the respectivesubscriber 130.

At times, the back end system 160 may periodically publish or “push”data indicative of subscribers having accounts in good standing (e.g.,current, prepaid, showing zero balance due) and/or data indicative ofsubscribers having accounts not in good standing (e.g., delinquent,unpaid, or showing a past-due balance) to the two-way distribution,charging, and vending system 110. Such subscriber account data may belocally retained in each two-way distribution, charging, and vendingsystem 110 in a respective non-transitory storage. At times, theback-end system 160 may maintain databases or data stores containingdata indicative of subscriber account information in nontransitorystorage that is remote from the two-way distribution, charging, andvending system 110. Such subscriber account information may beintermittently, periodically, or continuously communicated by theback-end system 160 to some or all of the two-way distribution,charging, and vending systems 110.

The portable electric energy storage devices 120 can include any currentor future developed system, device, or combinations of systems anddevices capable of storing or creating energy in the form of anelectrical charge. Example portable electric energy storage devices 120can include, but are not limited to, secondary (i.e., rechargeable)batteries having any current or future developed battery chemistry,ultracapacitors, supercapacitors, and the like. Illustrative portableelectric energy storage devices 120 include, but are not limited to,lead/acid batteries, nickel/cadmium batteries, lithium ion batteries,and similar rechargeable battery types. Each portable electric energystorage device 120 is contained within a resilient casing, enclosure, orhousing that includes a number of externally accessible electricalcontacts for discharging and charging the respective portable electricenergy storage device 120. In some instances, one or more phase changematerials may be integrated into the portable electric energy storagedevice 120 to provide thermal management capabilities.

Each portable electric energy storage device 120 may have a casing,enclosure, or housing with one or more ergonomic features to facilitateportage of the portable electric energy storage device 120, and theinsertion and removal of the portable electric energy storage device 120from the two-way distribution, charging, and vending system 110. Forexample, each portable electric energy storage device 120 may include aprotrusion, knob, or handle to facilitate the insertion and removal ofthe portable electric energy storage device 120 from the vehicle 140and/or the charging module 112 in the two-way distribution, charging,and vending two-way distribution system 110. Each of the portableelectric energy storage devices 120 may have the same or differentelectrical charge capacity. Each of the portable electric energy storagedevices 120 may have the same or different electric energy dischargecharacteristics. One characteristic shared by each of the portableelectric energy storage devices 120 is the retention of data indicativeof the manufacturer specific identifier in the first portion of thenontransitory storage media 122 carried by each of the portable electricenergy storage devices 120.

In some implementations, upon receipt of a portable electric energystorage device 120 in one of a number of charging modules 112, thetwo-way distribution system controller 114 authenticates themanufacturer identifier retained in the nontransitory storage media 122carried by a portable electric energy storage device 120 prior tocharging the portable electric energy storage device 120. In someinstances, the two-way distribution system controller 114 may provide amessage via the user interface 116 upon a failure to authenticate themanufacturer identifier retained in the nontransitory storage media 122of a portable electric energy storage device 120 received by a chargingmodule 112.

FIG. 2A shows an exterior perspective view of an example two-waydistribution, charging, and vending system 110 as depicted in FIG. 1,according to one illustrated embodiment. The two-way distribution,charging, and vending system 110 depicted in FIG. 2A is coupled to anexpansion module 210 that provides a number of additional chargingmodules 112 (four (4) shown in FIG. 2A, 112 e-112 h, greater or lessernumber possible) to the base two-way distribution, charging, and vendingtwo-way distribution system 110. It should be understood that eachtwo-way distribution, charging, and vending system 110 may include anynumber charging modules 112 and that each two-way distribution,charging, and vending system 110 may have the same or different numbersof charging modules 112.

Also visible in FIG. 2A is the exterior housing 202 and the gaskets 204that surround each of the charging modules 112 to provide a weatherproofseal between the housing 202 and the charging module 112. The occupiedcharging modules 214 each contain a single portable electric energystorage device 120.

At least a portion of the power consumed by the two-way distribution,charging, and vending system 110 for control, operation, and/or chargingof portable electric energy storage devices 120 may be provided via oneor more connections 220 to a power supply such as a local powerdistribution grid. In some implementations, at least a portion of thepower consumed by the two-way distribution, charging, and vending system110 for control, operation, and/or charging of portable electric energystorage devices 120 may be alternatively or additionally provided viaone or more renewable energy sources. For example, one or more solarcell arrays 230 may be electrically conductively coupled to the two-waydistribution, charging, and vending two-way distribution system 110.

In some instances, the two-way distribution, charging, and vendingsystem 110 may include one or more biometric sensors 206. Such biometricsensors 206 may include, but are not limited to, one or more: visible orinfrared still or video cameras, proximity detectors, ultrasonictransducers, or any other sensors, systems, or combination of sensorsand systems capable of detecting one or more biometric aspects of thesubscriber 130 attendant at the two-way distribution, charging, andvending system 110. Such biometric sensors 206 may provide various inputsignals to the at least one two-way distribution system controller 114.Responsive to the receipt of the signals provided by the biometricsensor 206, the at least one two-way distribution system controller 114may select a particular charged portable electric energy storage device120 for release to the subscriber 130 based at least in part on dataprovided by the biometric sensor signal. Thus, for example, the at leastone two-way distribution system controller 114 may release a portableelectric energy storage device 120 from the lower portion of the two-waydistribution, charging, and vending system 110 if the detected height ofthe subscriber 130 falls below a defined height threshold value (e.g.,less than 152 cm or about 5 feet).

FIGS. 2B and 2C show perspective views of the interior of an exampletwo-way distribution, charging, and vending system 110 as depicted inFIGS. 1 and 2A, with a portion of the exterior housing 202 pivotablydisplaced to expose the internal structure of the two-way distributionsystem 110, according to one illustrated embodiment.

FIG. 2B shows a perspective view of the interior of a two-waydistribution, charging, and vending system 110 in which charging modules112 a-112 c are installed in respective “buckets” or partitions 230a-230 c within the two-way distribution system 110 and one “bucket” orpartition 230 d within the two-way distribution system 110 remainsempty. In some implementations, the individual charging modules 112 areof a modular construction that facilitates the slideable insertion andremoval of the charging module 112 from a bucket 230. Such modularconstruction advantageously facilitates the removal and replacement ofan entire charging module 112 without requiring the tedious and timeconsuming rewiring of power, control, and/or communications to the newlyinserted charging module 112. Such modular construction may facilitatethe tool-less or tool-free insertion and removal of a charging module112 from a bucket 230. Each of the charging modules 112 includes amechanical locking device (not visible in FIG. 2B or 2C) adapted toretain a portable electric energy storage device 120 in the chargingmodule. The mechanical locking device also includes a number ofelectrical contacts or electrodes (also not visible in FIG. 2B or 2C)that correspond and conductively couple to a complimentary number ofexternally accessible electrical contacts on the portable electricenergy storage device 120. These and other features that advantageouslyfacilitate the replacement of the charging modules 112 will be discussedin detail in FIGS. 3A-3E.

FIG. 2C shows a perspective view of the interior of a two-waydistribution, charging, and vending system 110 in which a portableelectric energy storage device 120 b has been received in one chargingmodule 112 b disposed in bucket 230 b of the two-way distribution system110. A second charging module 112 a disposed in bucket 230 a is emptyand has not yet received a portable electric energy storage device 120.Also evident in FIG. 2C is the exposed handle on the portable electricenergy storage device 120 b which permits a subscriber to insert andremove the portable electric energy storage device 120 b from a chargingmodule 112 b.

FIG. 2D shows a plan view of the bottom surface of an example portableelectric energy storage device 120 showing an exemplary lockingconnector and electrical coupling assembly 240. The locking connectorand electrical coupling assembly 240 include a number of cavities 242a-242 d (four shown, greater or lesser numbers possible—collectively“cavities 242”) that each receive a corresponding complimentary lockingmember (see FIG. 2E) when the portable electric energy storage device120 is received by the charging module 112.

The assembly 240 additionally includes a number electrical contacts (twoshown 244, 246, other numbers possible) located within recesses on theportable electric energy storage device 120. The electrical contacts244, 246 are electrically isolated from the charging module 112 and fromeach other. Although positioned radially, the electrical contacts 244,246 may be positioned in any similar recess on the portable electricenergy storage device 120. Example recesses include recesses capable ofhaving any concentric shape or configuration, for example concentrictriangular recesses, square recesses, rounded square recesses, polygonalrecesses, or rounded polygonal recesses.

FIG. 2E is a perspective view of an exemplary complimentary locking huband electrical contact assembly 250 disposed in each of the chargingmodules 112. The locking hub and electrical contact assembly 250includes a rotatable locking hub 252 with a number of locking members253 a-253 d (four shown, greater or lesser numbers possible—collectively“locking members 253”) that are each received in a corresponding one ofthe cavities 242 a-242 d when the portable electric energy storagedevice 120 is received by the charging module 112. By rotating thelocking hub 252, each of the locking members 253 engages an edge of arespective one of the recesses 242, thereby preventing the removal ofthe portable electric energy storage device 120 from the charging module112. The locking hub and electrical contact assembly 250 also include anumber of electrical contacts (two shown 254, 256, other numberspossible).

Generally, the electrical contacts 254, 256 are disposed concentricallyinward of the locking hub 252 along an axis normal to the center of thelocking hub 252. The electrical contacts 254, 256 are electricallyisolated from the charging module 112 and from each other. Although theelectrical contacts 254, 256 are shown as radially concentric circularobjects in FIG. 2E, the electrical contacts 254, 256 can have anyconcentric shape or configuration, for example concentric triangles,squares, rounded squares, polygons, and/or rounded polygons. When thecharging module 112 receives the portable electric energy storage device120, the electrical contacts 254, 256 fit within the complimentaryapertures on the portable electric energy storage device 120 therebyproviding an electrically continuous path between the power distributiongrid in the two-way distribution, charging, and vending system 110 andthe portable electric energy storage device 120. Advantageously, theconcentric placement of the locking hub 252 and the electrical contacts254, 256 permits the insertion of the portable electric energy storagedevice 120 into the charging module 112 without requiring the subscriberto specifically orient the portable electric energy storage device 120.

FIG. 2F shows a modular power converter 260 electrically conductivelycoupleable to at least one charging module 112 used to provide directcurrent to a portable electric energy storage device 120 received by thecharging module 112, according to an illustrated embodiment. The modularpower converter 260 includes one or more modular interfaces 262 (notvisible in FIG. 2F). The one or more modular interfaces 262 include oneor more inputs to receive power from the power (e.g., alternatingcurrent or AC power) distribution grid within the two-way distributionsystem 110. The one or more modular interfaces include one or moreoutputs to provide power (e.g., direct current or DC power) to anelectrically conductively coupled charging module 112. In addition, themodular power converter 260 may include one or more tethered or wirelesscommunications interfaces to bidirectionally communicably couple to theone or more two-way distribution system controllers 114.

The physical construction of the modular power converter 260 and the oneor more modular interfaces 262 permit the slideable physical insertionand removal of the modular power converter 260 to and from the two-waydistribution system 110. Such construction advantageously permits therapid field replacement of a failed modular power converter 260 withoutrequiring the field repair of the failed modular power converter 260. Insome instances, the modular power converter 260 can include one or moreergonomic handles or other devices to facilitate the insertion and/orremoval of the modular power converter 260 from the bucket 230.

In some implementations, the two-way distribution system controller 114monitors one or more aspects of the performance of each modular powerconverter 260 installed in the two-way distribution system 110. In someimplementations, in addition to monitoring the one or more performanceaspects of each modular power converter 260, the two-way distributionsystem controller 114 also controls one or more output aspects of thecurrent supplied by the modular power converter 260 to the portableelectric energy storage device 120. For example, the two-waydistribution system controller 114 may control the current flow to theportable electric energy storage device 120 to maintain the temperatureof the portable electric energy storage device 120 within a definedrange during charging. In another example, the two-way distributionsystem controller 114 may coordinate the power consumption of multiplemodular power converters 260 by adjusting the output current provided byeach of the modular power converters 260 based on the charge level ofthe electrically coupled portable electric energy storage device 120.Thus, the two-way distribution system controller 114 may permit a highercurrent output from modular power converters 260 electrically coupled toportable electric energy storage devices 120 at a lower charge state andproportionately less current flow to those portable electric energystorage devices 120 as the charge level increases. In some instances,the two-way distribution system controller 114 may notify the back-endsystem 160 responsive to detecting a malfunction in one or more modularpower converters 260.

FIGS. 3A-3E show an example charging module 112, according to anillustrated embodiment. FIG. 3A shows a perspective view of an examplecharging module 112. FIG. 3B shows a plan view of the top of the examplecharging module 112 in FIG. 3A. FIG. 3C shows a cross sectionalelevation view of the example charging module 112 in FIG. 3A alongsection line 3C-3C in FIG. 3B. FIG. 3D shows a cross sectional elevationview of the example charging module 112 in FIG. 3A along section line3D-3D in FIG. 3B. FIG. 3E shows a plan view of the base of the examplecharging module 112 in FIG. 3A.

The charging module 112 includes a housing 302 that is disposed about alongitudinal axis 303 to form an internal space 306. The charging module112 further includes a base 304 that is generally normal to thelongitudinal axis 303 and is physically attached to a first end of thehousing 302. The charging module 112 includes an entrance 310 that isgenerally normal to the longitudinal axis 303 and physically attached tothe housing 302. The entrance 310 includes an orifice 312 through whichthe interior space 306 defined by the housing 302 is accessed. A housingdoor 320 that is displaceable along the longitudinal axis 303 covers orotherwise obstructs at least a portion of the orifice 312. An aperture330 having any shape or configuration (e.g., diamond, square, circular,oval) centered on the longitudinal axis 303 penetrates the housing door320. One or more surface features 308 (e.g., detents, slots, grooves)may be formed on one or more external surfaces of the housing 302. Invarious implementations, the one or more recesses, detents, slots orgrooves 308 may align the charging module 112 with the bucket 320 in thetwo-way distribution, charging, and vending system 110 therebyfacilitating the slideable insertion of the charging module 112 into thebucket 230.

Referring now to FIG. 3C, the housing door 320 is shown in twopositions, a first position 320 proximate the entrance 310 and a secondposition 320′ proximate the base 304. When the charging module 112 isinserted into a bucket 230 and the two-way distribution, charging, andvending system housing 202 is closed, the gasket 204 forms aweatherproof seal around the orifice 312. In the absence of a portableelectric energy storage device 120 in the charging module 112, a numberof biasing members 350 biases the housing door to the first positionproximate the entrance 310. When the housing door 320 is in the firstposition, a displaceable cover 360 obstructs the aperture 330.

Visible in FIG. 3C is the locking hub and electrical contact assembly250. The rotatable locking hub 252 extends at least partially into theinternal space 306 and is centered along the longitudinal axis 303 ofthe housing 302. The rotatable locking hub 252 is operably physicallycoupled to an actuator 340 via one or more linking members 342. In someinstances, the actuator 340 may be a maintained position type actuatorthat remains in the last position until a signal is received by theactuator 340 to move to a new position. In some instances, the actuator340 may be spring loaded or otherwise biased to one position after theenergy source is removed from the actuator 340. In at least oneembodiment, the actuator 340 is biased to a position in which thelocking member 253 on the rotatable locking hub 252 engage thecorresponding cavities 242 on a portable electric energy storage device120 inserted into the internal space of the charging module 112. Inother instances, the actuator can linearly translate the locking hub 252to engage corresponding cavities 242 on the portable electric energystorage device 120. For example, the actuator 340 may cause a lineardisplacement of a bar-type locking hub member into a correspondingcavity 242 on the portable electric energy storage device 120.

When inserted into the interior space 306 of the charging module 112, aportable electric energy storage device 120 displaces the housing door320 along the longitudinal axis 303 of the housing 302 using the forceof insertion of the portable electric energy storage device 120. Withreference to FIG. 3D, in some instances the displaceable cover 360 mayhave one or more shaft members 362 that slide along a serpentine slot352 formed in, along, or through at least one wall of the interior space306. As the housing door 320 is displaced along the longitudinal axis303, the shaft 362 travels along the serpentine slot 352, moving thedisplaceable cover 360 away from and consequently opening the orifice330. The locking hub and electrical contact assembly 250 is thuspermitted to at least partially pass through the orifice 330 when thehousing door 320 is in the second position.

The passage of the locking hub and electrical contact assembly 250through the orifice 330 when the housing door 320 is in the secondposition permits electrical contact between the electrical contacts 254,256 that provide power from the modular power converter 260 and theelectrical contacts 244, 246 positioned in the recesses 242 on theportable electric energy storage device 120. Such permits the modularpower converter 260 to provide energy to charge the portable electricenergy storage device 120. When the portable electric energy storagedevice 120 is removed from the charging module 112, the biasing members350 cause the displacement of the housing door 320 from the secondposition to the first position. As the housing door 320 travels from thesecond position to the first position along the longitudinal axis 303,the shafts 362 coupled to the displaceable cover 360 travel along theserpentine slots 352, moving the displaceable cover 360 towards andconsequently obstructing the orifice 330 when the housing door 320 is inthe first position.

Referring now to FIGS. 3D and 3E, a modular electrical interface 360 isdisposed on the external portion of the base 304. The modular electricalinterface 360 facilitates the flow of power from the output of themodular power converter 260 to the electrical contacts 254, 256. In someinstances, the modular electrical interface 360 further provides for thebidirectional flow of signals between the charging module 112 and the atleast one two-way distribution system controller 114. The modularelectrical interface advantageously permits the slideable insertion andremoval of the charging module 112 into the bucket 230 without requiringmanual connection or coupling of power or signal wiring.

FIG. 4 shows a high-level flow diagram of an example method 400 ofoperating a two-way distribution, charging, and vending system 110 forproviding portable electric energy storage devices 120, according to onenon-limiting illustrated embodiment. A manufacturer of vehicles 140powered using portable electric energy storage devices 120 may alsoprovide the portable electric energy storage devices 120. The portableelectric energy storage devices 120 may also be provided by a party thatdoes not manufacture vehicles but distributes portable electric energystorage devices. For safety and operability reasons, the manufacturermay place tight manufacturing and quality controls on the portableelectric energy storage devices 120 to optimize vehicle performance,maximize vehicle life, and/or enhance the safety of the vehicleoperator. The manufacturer may elect to improve widespread publicacceptance of the electric vehicles by providing two-way distribution,charging, and vending systems 110 at convenient locations throughout ageographic area (e.g., city, county, state, or nation). At these two-waydistribution, charging, and vending systems 110, vehicle operators whohave subscribed to a portable electric energy storage device exchangeprogram are able to exchange a discharged portable electric energystorage device 120 for a more fully charged portable electric energystorage device 120. By supporting such an exchange, the manufacturer isable to ease public concerns of being stranded and without power in aremote location and thereby increase public acceptance of anecologically friendly electric vehicle technology. The method 400 ofoperating a two-way distribution, charging, and vending system 110 forproviding portable electric energy storage devices 120 commences at 402.

At 404, a first portable electric energy storage device 120 a is atleast partially received by a first charging module 112 a. For example,a subscriber 130 may remove an at least partially discharged firstportable electric energy storage device 120 a from a vehicle 140. Thesubscriber 130 inserts the at least partially discharged first portableelectric energy storage device 120 a into an empty first charging module112 a in the two-way distribution, charging, and vending system 110.

At 406, the at least one two-way distribution system controller 114reads data from a nontransitory storage media 122 a carried by the atleast partially discharged first portable electric energy storage device120 a. In some instances, the at least one two-way distribution systemcontroller 114 wirelessly reads the data from the nontransitory storagemedia 122 a, for example using Near Field Communication, frequencyidentification (RFID), or Bluetooth®.

At 408, the at least one two-way distribution system controller 114authenticates a first portion of the data read from the nontransitorystorage media 122 a carried by the at least partially discharged firstportable electric energy storage device 120 a to confirm the portableelectric energy storage device 120 a is authorized by the vehiclemanufacturer. In some instances, the first portion of the data mayinclude data stored or otherwise retained in an immutable portion of thenontransitory storage media 122 a carried by the portable electricenergy storage device 120 a. In some instances, the first portion of thedata may include a manufacturer identifier that is encrypted, encoded,or otherwise protected.

In some instances, the at least one two-way distribution systemcontroller 114 may locally authenticate the first portion of the dataread from the nontransitory storage media 122 a carried by the portableelectric energy storage device 120 a. For example, the at least onetwo-way distribution system controller 114 may compare all or a portionof the data read from the nontransitory storage media 122 a with a knownauthentic code supplied by the manufacturer and stored in anontransitory storage media readable by the at least one two-waydistribution system controller 114.

In other instances, the at least one two-way distribution systemcontroller 114 may remotely authenticate the first portion of the dataread from the nontransitory storage media 122 a carried by the portableelectric energy storage device 120 a. For example, the at least onetwo-way distribution system controller 114 may communicate at least aportion of the first portion of the data, including the manufactureridentifier, to a back-end system 160. The back-end system 160 cancompare the first portion of the data read from the nontransitorystorage media 122 a with a known authentic manufacturer identifiersupplied by the manufacturer and stored in a nontransitory storage mediareadable by the back-end system 160. The back-end system 160 can thencommunicate a message to the at least one two-way distribution systemcontroller 114 indicative of the outcome of the authentication of themanufacturer identifier read from the nontransitory storage media 122 a.

At 410, the at least one two-way distribution system controller 114validates a second portion of the data read from the nontransitorystorage media 122 a carried by the at least partially discharged firstportable electric energy storage device 120 a to confirm the validity ofthe subscription of the subscriber 130 returning the portable electricenergy storage device 120 a. In some instances, the second portion ofthe data may include data stored or otherwise retained in a rewriteableportion of the nontransitory storage media 122 a carried by the portableelectric energy storage device 120 a. In some instances, the secondportion of the data may uniquely identify a particular subscriber 130.

In some instances, the at least one two-way distribution systemcontroller 114 may locally validate subscriber identifier included inthe second portion of the data read from the nontransitory storage media122 a carried by the portable electric energy storage device 120 a. Forexample, the at least one two-way distribution system controller 114 maycompare all or a portion of subscriber identifier read from the secondportion of the nontransitory storage media 122 a with entries in adatabase or data store indicative of all known valid subscriberidentifiers. In some instances, the back-end system 160 may communicateall or a portion of the database or data store indicative of all knownvalid subscriber identifiers to the at least one two-way distributionsystem controller 114 periodically, intermittently, or fromtime-to-time. In some implementations, such a database or data store mayinclude data indicative of a “whitelist” (i.e., a list of subscribershaving an accounts that are in good standing), a “blacklist” (i.e., alist of subscribers having accounts that are not in good standing), orany combination thereof.

In other instances, the at least one two-way distribution systemcontroller 114 may remotely authenticate the subscriber identifierincluded in the second portion of data read from the nontransitorystorage media 122 a. For example, the at least one two-way distributionsystem controller 114 may communicate at least a portion of thesubscriber identifier included in the second portion of the data to theback-end system 160. The back-end system 160 can compare the subscriberidentifier with entries in a database or data store indicative of allknown valid subscriber identifiers. The back-end system 160 can thencommunicate a message to the at least one two-way distribution systemcontroller 114 indicative of the outcome of the validation of thesubscriber identifier included in the second portion of the data readfrom the nontransitory storage media 122 a.

If the two-way distribution, charging, and vending system 110 determinesthe subscriber's account is not in good standing, a message may bedisplayed on the display 116, a handheld device logically associatedwith the subscriber, or both. The message may require the subscriber 130to bring their account to a “good standing” condition prior todispensing a charged portable electric energy storage device 120. Insome instances, the subscriber 130 may provide an electronic payment(e.g., credit or debit card) using an input device (e.g., magneticstripe reader) on the two-way distribution, charging, and vending system110 or a portable wireless device such as a smartphone. In someinstances, the subscriber 130 may authorize the back-end system 160 todebit or charge a previously supplied (i.e., an “on file”) debit orcredit card to bring the subscriber account to good standing byproviding an input to the back-end system 160 via the kiosk or via aportable wireless device such as a smartphone.

Where the two-way distribution, charging, and vending system 110 locallyvalidates subscriber account status, after successfully processing thepayment the two-way distribution, charging, and vending system 110 mayimmediately update subscriber information in the nontransitory storagemedia to reflect the received payment and the updated account standing.Such updated subscriber account information may be pushed to or pulledby the back end system 160 either immediately or at one or more definedintervals. Where remote validation is used, the back-end system 160 mayimmediately update subscriber information upon successful completion ofpayment to reflect the subscriber's revised account standing and maypush data indicative of the respective subscriber's account standing tothe two-way distribution, charging, and vending system 110. At times,the back-end system 160 and/or the two-way distribution, charging, andvending system 110 may provide messages to a subscriber 130 based on theaccount status of the respective subscriber 130. For example, asubscriber 130 having an account that is not in good standing may beprovided a message via the display device 116 that inquires whether thesubscriber would like to change their payment method to an automaticpayment method such as a periodic auto-debit payment collected via adeposit account or via a credit or debit card.

The two-way distribution, charging, and vending system 110 maycommunicate with a portable electric energy storage device 120 and/orthe subscriber vehicle 140 prior to dispensing the portable electricenergy storage device 120 to a subscriber 130. Such communication mayfor example, include instructions executable at least in part by asecurity or other controller carried by the dispensed portable electricenergy storage device 120. Such communication may for example, includeinstructions executable at least in part by one or more controllerscarried on or by the subscriber's vehicle 140.

In one implementation, a subscriber 130 logically associated with asubscriber account that is not in good standing may arrive at a two-waydistribution, charging, and vending system 110 with a depleted batteryonly to find that a charged portable electric energy storage device 120is unavailable due at least in part to the subscriber's account status.Rather than stranding the subscriber 130, in some implementations the atleast one two-way distribution system controller 114 can communicateinstructions to a charged portable electric energy storage device 120.In some instances, the instructions provided by the at least one two-waydistribution system controller 114 may limit the energy discharge rateof the dispensed portable electric energy storage device 120 to adefined value less than a maximum energy discharge rate achievable bythe portable electric energy storage device 120. Limiting the energydischarge rate of the portable electric energy storage device 120effectively limits the speed of the subscriber's vehicle 140 until thesubscriber 130 brings their account into good standing.

In another instance, the instructions provided by the at least onetwo-way distribution system controller 114 may limit or otherwise capthe energy available to the subscriber's vehicle 140. For example, theinstructions may limit the energy available from the portable electricenergy storage device 120 to a defined percentage of the total energystored (i.e., the charge) in the portable electric energy storage device120. For example, a portable electric energy storage device 120 having astored energy level of 1 kilowatt-hour (kWh) may be limited to 50%availability (i.e., 500 watt-hours) when dispensed to a subscriberassociated with a subscriber account that is not in good standing.Portable electric energy storage devices 120 having such energyavailability limitations may cease delivering energy to the subscriber'svehicle 140 upon reaching the defined energy availability limit.

In another example, the energy availability cap or limit in a portableelectric energy storage device 120 dispensed by the two-waydistribution, charging, and vending system 110 may be based on one ormore extrinsic factors. At times, the energy availability cap in theportable electric energy storage device 120 may be based in whole or inpart on the distance between the two-way distribution, charging, andvending system 110 and a defined geographic point. For example, thetwo-way distribution, charging, and vending system 110 may dispense aportable electric energy storage device 120 having an energyavailability cap sufficient for a subscriber 130 to reach a definedlocation (e.g., home, work) when the subscriber account logicallyassociated with the respective subscriber 130 is not in good standing.At times, the at least one two-way distribution system controller 114may additionally or alternatively communicate with a controller carriedby the subscriber vehicle 140 when the subscriber account logicallyassociated with a subscriber 130 is not in good standing. At times, suchcommunication may be performed wirelessly between the two-waydistribution, charging, and vending system 110 and the subscribervehicle 140. At other times, such communication may be performed via oneor more intermediary devices exchanged between the two-way distribution,charging, and vending system 110 and the subscriber vehicle 140, forexample via the nontransitory storage media 122 carried by a portableelectric energy storage device 120 discharged by the two-waydistribution, charging, and vending system 110. The communicationbetween the at least one two-way distribution system controller 114 andthe subscriber vehicle 140 may limit or alter the performance of one ormore vehicular systems while the subscriber account logically associatedwith the subscriber 130 is not in good standing. In one implementation,such communication may cause one or more vehicular systems (e.g.,lights, horn) to act erratically or spontaneously as a way of indicatingthe subscriber account logically associated with the subscriber 130 isnot in good standing. Such altered vehicular systems may be maintainedin an altered state for a defined period, for example until thesubscriber account is brought into good standing.

Importantly, the authentication and validation processes are unrelated.The authentication at 408 ensures the portable electric energy storagedevice 120 a is a manufacturer approved device by comparing amanufacturer identifier stored in the first portion of the nontransitorystorage media 122 a carried by the portable electric energy storagedevice 120 a. The validation at 410 ensures the subscription logicallyassociated with the subscriber identifier carried in the nontransitorystorage media 122 a of the inserted portable electric energy storagedevice 120 a is valid. Additionally, the validation at 410 provides thetwo-way distribution, charging, and vending system 110 with guidance onthe number, type, and performance of charged portable electric energystorage devices 120 b-120 n to dispense to the subscriber based on thesubscription logically associated with the subscriber identifier.

At 412, responsive to a successful authentication at 408 and asuccessful validation at 410, the two-way distribution, charging, andvending system 110 writes the second portion of data, including thesubscriber identifier, read from the first portable electric energystorage device 120 a to a nontransitory storage media 122 b carried by asecond, charged, portable electric energy storage device 120 b. Recall,the manufacturer specific identifier is stored or retained in animmutable or non-rewriteable first portion of the nontransitory storagemedia 122 b carried by the charged portable electric energy storagedevice 120 b. Thus, after writing the subscriber identifier in thesecond portion of the nontransitory storage media 122 b, the firstportion of the nontransitory storage media 122 b will include dataindicative of the manufacturer identifier and the second portion of thenontransitory storage media 122 b will include data indicative of thesubscriber identifier.

At 414, responsive to successfully authenticating the manufactureridentifier at 408 and validating the subscriber identifier at 410, theat least one two-way distribution system controller 114 allows theremoval of the charged portable electric energy storage device 120 bfrom the two-way distribution, charging, and vending system 110. Themethod 400 of operating a two-way distribution, charging, and vendingsystem 110 for providing portable electric energy storage devices 120commences at 402.

FIG. 5 shows a high-level flow diagram of an example method 500 ofoperating a two-way distribution, charging, and vending system 110 forproviding portable electric energy storage devices 120, according to onenon-limiting illustrated embodiment. The locking hub 252 locks theportable electric energy storage device 120 into the charging module112. In some instances, the locking hub 252 is biased towards a first(locked) position and the bias may be overcome by the insertion of theportable electric energy storage device 120 into the charging module112. In such instances, the portable electric energy storage device 120is locked in the charging module 112 upon insertion. In other instances,the locking hub is biased towards a second (unlocked) position and thusmay permit the removal of the portable electric energy storage device120 from the charging module 112 until such time that the locking hub252 is rotated to the first (locked) position. The method 500 of lockingthe at least partially discharged first portable electric energy storagedevice 120 a into the first charging module 112 a upon insertion andunlocking the charge second portable electric energy storage device 120b from a second charging module 112 b upon successful authentication ofthe manufacturer identifier and validation of the subscriber identifiercommences at 502.

At 504, the first of a number of charging modules 112 a receives thefirst portable electric energy storage device 120. As the first portableelectric energy storage device 120 is inserted into the first chargingmodule 112 a, the locking hub 252 in the first charging module 112 aengages the cavities 242 on the first portable electric energy storagedevice 120 a, securely locking the first portable electric energystorage device 120 into the first charging module 112 a.

In some instances, the locking hub 252 is biased toward the first(locked) position using one or more biasing members such as a helicalcoil spring or similar. In such instances, inserting the first portableelectric energy storage device 120 a causes a temporary rotationaldisplacement of the locking hub 252 from the first position until thefirst portable electric energy storage device 120 a is seated in thecharging module 112 and the locking hub rotationally biases back to thefirst (locked) position.

In other instances, the actuator 340 causes the rotational displacementof the locking hub 252 from the first (locked) position to the second(unlocked) position until the first portable electric energy storagedevice 120 a is seated in the first charging module 112 a. After thefirst portable electric energy storage device 120 a is seated in thefirst charging module 112 a, the actuator can cause the rotationaldisplacement of the locking hub 252 from the second (unlocked) positionto the first (locked) position thereby securing the first portableelectric energy storage device 120 a in the first charging module 112 a.

After securing the first portable electric energy storage device 120 ain the first charging module 112 a, the at least one two-waydistribution system controller 114 authenticates the manufactureridentifier and validates the subscriber identifier stored or otherwiseretained in the nontransitory storage media 122 a carried by the firstportable electric energy storage device 120 a.

At 506, responsive to the successful authentication of the manufactureridentifier and successful validation of the subscriber identifier storedor otherwise retained in the nontransitory storage media 122 a carriedby the first portable electric energy storage device 120 a, the at leastone two-way distribution system controller 114 writes the subscriberidentifier to the nontransitory storage media 122 b carried by a chargedsecond portable electric energy storage device 120 b in a second of thenumber of charging modules 112 b. The at least one two-way distributionsystem controller 114 then causes the rotational displacement of thelocking hub in the second charging module 112 b from the first (locked)position to the second (unlocked) position thereby permitting theremoval of the second portable electric energy storage device 120 b fromthe second charging module 112 b. The method 500 of locking the at leastpartially discharged first portable electric energy storage device 120 ainto the first charging module 112 a upon insertion and unlocking thecharge second portable electric energy storage device 120 b from asecond charging module 112 b upon successful authentication of themanufacturer identifier and validation of the subscriber identifierconcludes at 508.

FIG. 6 shows a high-level flow diagram of an example method 600 of atwo-way distribution, charging, and vending system 110 providing asubscriber 130 with vehicle specific information upon receipt of aportable electric energy storage device 120 from the subscriber 130,according to one non-limiting illustrated embodiment. In someimplementations, the nontransitory storage media 122 carried by aportable electric energy storage device 120 may store information in theform of data indicative of one or more operational aspects of thevehicle 140 in which the portable electric energy storage device 120 hasbeen most recently used. Such data may include, but is not limited tomaintenance information, service information, operational information,and similar. The vehicle specific information may be presented to thesubscriber 130 via the user interface 116 in an audio, a video, or anaudio/visual format. The method 600 of a two-way distribution, charging,and vending system 110 providing a subscriber 130 with vehicle specificinformation upon receipt of a portable electric energy storage device120 from the subscriber 130 commences at 602.

At 604, in response to receiving the first discharged portable electricenergy storage device 120 a in the first of a number of charging modules112 a, the at least one two-way distribution system controller 114 readsdata from the nontransitory storage media 122 a carried by the portableelectric energy storage device 120 a. In some instances, in addition tothe manufacturer identifier and the subscriber identifier, thenontransitory storage media 122 a may contain vehicle specificinformation in the form of data indicative of one or more operationalaspects of the subscriber's vehicle 140 from which the portable electricenergy storage device 120 a was most recently removed. Such vehiclespecific information may include, but is not limited to informationregarding current maintenance, service, repairs, or replacements due onthe vehicle; vehicle recall information; future expected maintenance,service, repairs, or replacements due on the vehicle based on observeddriving conditions and driving styles; and similar.

At 606, in response to obtaining the vehicle specific information, theat least one two-way distribution system controller 114 generates anoutput perceptible by the subscriber 130. Such an output may includeinformation presented in an audio format, a video format, a still imageformat, and/or an audio/visual format. For example, the at least onetwo-way distribution system controller 114 may generate a video formatdisplay on the user interface 116 in response to vehicle data retrievedfrom the nontransitory storage media 122 a carried by the portableelectric energy storage device 120 a.

At 608, the at least one two-way distribution system controller 114erases the vehicle specific data from the nontransitory storage media122 a carried by the portable electric energy storage device 120 a. Themethod 600 of a two-way distribution, charging, and vending system 110providing a subscriber 130 with vehicle specific information uponreceipt of a portable electric energy storage device 120 from thesubscriber 130 concludes at 610.

FIG. 7 shows a high-level flow diagram of an example method of verifyinga subscriber identifier read by the at least one two-way distributionsystem controller 114 from the second portion of the nontransitorystorage media 122 a carried by a first portable electric energy storagedevice 120 a, according to one illustrated embodiment. Vehiclemanufacturers may offer exchange portable electric energy storagedevices 120 via subscription plans that may include one or multiplelevels. For example, subscription plans may be in the form of a limitednumber of exchanges over a given timeframe (one exchange per day, fiveexchanges per week, thirty exchanges per month, etc.).

In another example, subscription plans may be in the form of a number ofportable electric energy storage devices 120 made available to thesubscriber at one time. Certain vehicles 140 may have the capability touse more than one portable electric energy storage device 120 at atime—in such instances, the subscriber will likely desire to exchangethe portable electric energy storage devices in pairs rather thanindividually.

In another example, subscription plans may be in the form of vehicleperformance (a “range” plan, a “performance” plan, etc.). In suchinstances, different portable electric energy storage devices 120 mayhave different discharge characteristics tailored to a particularsubscription plan.

Thus, upon receipt of a portable electric energy storage device 120, theat least one two-way distribution system controller 114 retrieves thesubscriber identifier from the nontransitory storage media 122 a carriedby the portable electric energy storage device 120 a. Using theretrieved subscriber identifier, the at least one two-way distributionsystem controller 114 can both validate the subscriber account (i.e.,the account is current on payment) and confirm any special subscriptionservices and/or subscription level. The method of verifying a subscriberidentifier read by the at least one two-way distribution systemcontroller 114 from the second portion of the nontransitory storagemedia 122 a carried by a first portable electric energy storage device120 a commences at 702.

At 704, the at least one two-way distribution system controller 114communicates the subscriber identifier read from the second portion ofthe nontransitory storage media 122 a carried by the portable electricenergy storage device 120 a to a back-end system 160. The data may becommunicated by or across any number or type of networks including plainold telephone service (POTS) wired connections, wireless networks, wirednetworks, the Internet, or combinations thereof. In some instances, thesubscriber identifier may be communicated in an encrypted or otherwiseprotected format.

At 706, the back-end system 160 validates the subscriber identifierprovided by the at least one two-way distribution system controller 114.In some instances, the back-end system 160 performs such a validation bydecrypting (if needed) and comparing the subscriber identifier providedby the at least one two-way distribution system controller 114 with alist of known valid subscriber identifiers. The list of known validsubscriber identifiers may be stored, retained, or otherwise maintainedin a data store or database on one or more back-end system readablenontransitory storage media.

Optionally, the back-end system 160 may look-up or otherwise determinethe subscription plan logically associated with the received subscriberidentifier. In some instances, the subscription plan information may bestored, retained, or otherwise maintained along with the validsubscriber identifiers in a data store or database on one or moreback-end system readable nontransitory storage media.

At 708, the back-end system 160 communicates data indicative of thesuccess or failure of the subscriber identity validation to the at leastone two-way distribution system controller 114. The data indicative ofthe success or failure of the subscriber identity validation includes atleast an indicator of the validity of the subscription logicallyassociated with the subscriber identifier read from the portableelectric energy storage device 120 a. At times, the data indicative ofthe success or failure of the subscriber identity validation may includean indication of the number of charged portable electric energy storagedevices 120 the at least one two-way distribution system controller 114should release to the subscriber. At times, the data indicative of thesuccess or failure of the subscriber identity validation may include anindication of the type, style, or operational parameters of the chargedportable electric energy storage devices 120 the at least one two-waydistribution system controller 114 should release to the subscriber. Themethod of verifying a subscriber identifier read by the at least onetwo-way distribution system controller 114 from the second portion ofthe nontransitory storage media 122 a carried by a first portableelectric energy storage device 120 a concludes at 710.

FIG. 8 shows a high-level flow diagram of an example method of assessinga received at least partially discharged portable electric energystorage device 120 a and charging the portable electric energy storagedevice 120 a under controlled thermal conditions, according to oneillustrated embodiment. The at least partially discharged portableelectric energy storage device 120 a inserted into a first of the numberof charging modules 112 a may contain one or more faults that compromisethe charge storage capacity or safety of the portable electric energystorage device 120 a. To avoid potential failure of the portableelectric energy storage device 120 a during charging, after receivingand prior to charging the portable electric energy storage device 120 a,the at least one two-way distribution system controller 114 maydetermine the condition of the portable electric energy storage device120 a. Responsive to determining the condition of the portable electricenergy storage device 120 is acceptable for charging, the at least onetwo-way distribution system controller 114 can initiate charging of theportable electric energy storage device 120 a. The at least one two-waydistribution system controller 114 can control one or more chargingconditions within a defined range during the charging process. The atleast one two-way distribution system controller 114 can maintain and/orcontrol conditions within the charging module 112, the portable electricenergy storage device 120 a, or both. The method of assessing a receivedat least partially discharged portable electric energy storage device120 a and charging the portable electric energy storage device 120 aunder controlled thermal conditions commences at 802.

At 804, the at least partially discharged portable electric energystorage device 120 a is received in the first of a number of chargingmodules 112 a.

At 806, responsive to the receipt of the first portable electric energystorage device 120 a in the first charging module 112 a, the at leastone two-way distribution system controller 114 assesses the condition ofthe received portable electric energy storage device 120 a. Such anassessment may consider the electrical charge storage capacity of theportable electric energy storage device 120 a, the presence of internalor external electrical faults (e.g., shorts or opens) in the portableelectric energy storage device 120 a, the number of charge cycles on theportable electric energy storage device 120 a, and the like.

In some instances, the at least one two-way distribution systemcontroller 114 compares the assessed condition of the portable electricenergy storage device 120 a with defined, stored, acceptable valuesand/or value ranges to determine the suitability of the portableelectric energy storage device 120 a for charging. If the assessedcondition falls outside of acceptable range, the at least one two-waydistribution system controller 114 can isolate the first charging module112 a. Optionally, the at least one two-way distribution systemcontroller 114 can communicate a message that includes data indicativeof the failed portable electric energy storage device 120 a to aback-end system 160. Such data may include the identity of the portableelectric energy storage device 120 a and the assessment results,including an indication of the failed assessment parameters.

At 808, responsive to a successful assessment of the condition of theportable electric energy storage device 120 a, the at least one two-waydistribution system controller 114 initiates charging of the portableelectric energy storage device 120 a.

At 810, contemporaneous with charging the portable electric energystorage device 120 a, the at least one two-way distribution systemcontroller 114 controls or maintains one or more charging conditionswithin a defined range during the charging process. In some instances,the conditions may be maintained or controlled via changes to thecharging module (e.g., limiting current flow to the portable electricenergy storage device 120 a). In some instances, the conditions may bealternatively or additionally maintained or controlled by alteringconditions within the two-way distribution, charging, and vending system110 (e.g., heating, cooling, and/or dehumidifying all or a portion ofthe interior of the interior of the two-way distribution, charging, andvending system 110). In some instances, the conditions may bealternatively or additionally maintained or controlled by alteringconditions within the portable electric energy storage device 120 a(e.g., through the use of one or more phase change heat-transfermaterials within the portable electric energy storage device 120 a).

At times, the environmental conditions within the two-way distribution,charging, and vending system 110, the charging module 112, the portableelectric energy storage device 120, or combinations thereof may becontrolled to optimize one or more operational aspects such as rapidityof recharge, portable electric energy storage device life, portableelectric energy storage device condition, or combinations thereof.

For example, the at least one two-way distribution system controller 114maintains the temperature of a freshly inserted, at least partiallydischarged portable electric energy storage device 120 above a definedfirst temperature for a first interval to increase the initial chargingrate. After the first interval expires, the at least one two-waydistribution system controller 114 decreases the temperature of the atleast partially discharged portable electric energy storage device 120below a defined second temperature for the remaining duration of thecharging period to maximize the lifecycle of the portable electricenergy storage device 120.

The method of assessing a received at least partially dischargedportable electric energy storage device 120 a and charging the portableelectric energy storage device 120 a under controlled thermal conditionsconcludes at 812.

The various methods described herein may include additional acts, omitsome acts, and/or may perform the acts in a different order than set outin the various flow diagrams.

The foregoing detailed description has set forth various embodiments ofthe devices and/or processes via the use of block diagrams, schematics,and examples. Insofar as such block diagrams, schematics, and examplescontain one or more functions and/or operations, it will be understoodby those skilled in the art that each function and/or operation withinsuch block diagrams, flowcharts, or examples can be implemented,individually and/or collectively, by a wide range of hardware, software,firmware, or virtually any combination thereof. In one embodiment, thepresent subject matter may be implemented via one or moremicrocontrollers. However, those skilled in the art will recognize thatthe embodiments disclosed herein, in whole or in part, can beequivalently implemented in standard integrated circuits (e.g.,Application Specific Integrated Circuits or ASICs), as one or morecomputer programs executed by one or more computers (e.g., as one ormore programs running on one or more computer systems), as one or moreprograms executed by on one or more controllers (e.g., microcontrollers)as one or more programs executed by one or more processors (e.g.,microprocessors), as firmware, or as virtually any combination thereof,and that designing the circuitry and/or writing the code for thesoftware and/or firmware would be well within the skill of one ofordinary skill in the art in light of the teachings of this disclosure.

When logic is implemented as software and stored in memory, logic orinformation can be stored on any non-transitory computer-readable mediumfor use by or in connection with any processor-related system or method.In the context of this disclosure, a memory is a nontransitory computer-or processor-readable storage medium that is an electronic, magnetic,optical, or other physical device or means that non-transitorilycontains or stores a computer and/or processor program. Logic and/or theinformation can be embodied in any computer-readable medium for use byor in connection with an instruction execution system, apparatus, ordevice, such as a computer-based system, processor-containing system, orother system that can fetch the instructions from the instructionexecution system, apparatus, or device and execute the instructionsassociated with logic and/or information.

In the context of this specification, a “computer-readable medium” canbe any physical element that can store the program associated with logicand/or information for use by or in connection with the instructionexecution system, apparatus, and/or device. The computer-readable mediumcan be, for example, but is not limited to, an electronic, magnetic,optical, electromagnetic, infrared, or semiconductor system, apparatusor device. More specific examples (a non-exhaustive list) of thecomputer readable medium would include the following: a portablecomputer diskette (magnetic, compact flash card, secure digital, or thelike), a random access memory (RAM), a read-only memory (ROM), anerasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM, EEPROM, or Flash memory),a portable compact disc read-only memory (CDROM), and digital tape.

The various embodiments described above can be combined to providefurther embodiments. To the extent that they are not inconsistent withthe specific teachings and definitions herein, all of the U.S. patents,U.S. patent application publications, U.S. patent applications, foreignpatents, foreign patent applications and non-patent publicationsreferred to in this specification and/or listed in the Application DataSheet, including but not limited to: U.S. provisional patent applicationSer. No. 61/601,949, entitled “APPARATUS, METHOD AND ARTICLE FORPROVIDING LOCATIONS OF POWER STORAGE DEVICE COLLECTION, CHARGING ANDDISTRIBUTION MACHINES” and filed Feb. 22, 2012 (Atty. Docket No.170178.418P1); U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 61/511,900,entitled “APPARATUS, METHOD AND ARTICLE FOR COLLECTION, CHARGING ANDDISTRIBUTING POWER STORAGE DEVICES, SUCH AS BATTERIES” and filed Jul.26, 2011 (Atty. Docket No. 170178.401P1); U.S. provisional patentapplication Ser. No. 61/511,887, entitled “THERMAL MANAGEMENT OFCOMPONENTS IN ELECTRIC MOTOR DRIVE VEHICLES” and filed Jul. 26, 2011(Atty. Docket No. 170178.406P1); U.S. provisional patent applicationSer. No. 61/783,041, entitled “APPARATUS, SYSTEM, AND METHOD FORAUTHENTICATION OF VEHICULAR COMPONENTS” and filed Mar. 14, 2013; andU.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 61/511,880, entitled“DYNAMICALLY LIMITING VEHICLE OPERATION FOR BEST EFFORT ECONOMY” andfiled Jul. 26, 2011 (Atty. Docket No. 170178.407P1); are incorporatedherein by reference, in their entirety. Aspects of the embodiments canbe modified, if necessary, to employ systems, circuits and concepts ofthe various patents, applications and publications to provide yetfurther embodiments.

While generally discussed in the environment and context of collectionand distribution of portable electrical energy storage devices for usewith personal transportation vehicle such as all-electric scootersand/or motorbikes, the teachings herein can be applied in a wide varietyof other environments, including other vehicular as well asnon-vehicular environments.

The above description of illustrated embodiments, including what isdescribed in the Abstract of the Disclosure, is not intended to beexhaustive or to limit the embodiments to the precise forms disclosed.Although specific embodiments and examples are described herein forillustrative purposes, various equivalent modifications can be madewithout departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure, as willbe recognized by those skilled in the relevant art.

These and other changes can be made to the embodiments in light of theabove-detailed description. In general, in the following claims, theterms used should not be construed to limit the claims to the specificembodiments disclosed in the specification and the claims, but should beconstrued to include all possible embodiments along with the full scopeof equivalents to which such claims are entitled. Accordingly, theclaims are not limited by the disclosure.

1-46. (canceled)
 47. A method of operating a portable electrical energystorage device charging and distribution system, the method comprising:receiving, by a first charging module of the system, a first portableelectrical energy storage device; retrieving, by a controller of thesystem, data from one or more non-transitory storage media carried bythe first portable electrical energy storage device; authenticating, bythe controller, the first portable electrical energy storage devicebased on a first portion of the data; and responsive to successfullyauthenticating the first portable electrical energy storage device,storing, by the controller, a second portion of the data in a secondportable electrical energy storage device positioned in a secondcharging module of the system and enabling the second portableelectrical energy storage device to be removed from the second chargingmodule.
 48. The method of claim 47, further comprising: validating, bythe controller, a subscription plan based on the second portion of thedata; and responsive to successfully authenticating the first portableelectrical energy storage device and responsive to successfullyvalidating the subscription plan, storing, by the controller, the secondportion of the data in the second portable electrical energy storagedevice positioned in the second charging module of the system andenabling the second portable electrical energy storage device to beremoved from the second charging module.
 49. The method of claim 47,wherein the first portion of the data includes a manufactureridentifier.
 50. The method of claim 47, wherein the second portion ofthe data includes a subscriber identifier.
 51. The method of claim 47,further comprising: responsive to unsuccessfully authenticating thefirst portion of the data, operating a first locking hub of the firstcharging module to lock the first portable electric energy storagedevice in the first charging module
 52. The method of claim 51, furthercomprising: rotatably displacing the first locking hub of the firstcharging module from a locked position to receive the first portableelectrical energy storage device; and rotatably returning the firstlocking hub to the locked position via one or more biasing members tolock the first portable electric energy storage device in the firstcharging module.
 53. The method of claim 52, further comprising: afterstoring the second portion of the data in the second portable electricalenergy storage device positioned in the second charging module of thesystem, operating a second locking hub of the second charging module tounlock the second portable electric energy storage device in the secondcharging module.
 54. The method of claim 53, further comprising:rotatably displacing the second locking hub of the second chargingmodule from a locked position to an unlocked position to unlock thesecond portable electric energy storage device in the second chargingmodule.
 55. The method of claim 54, further comprising: displacing anactuator from a first position to a second position so as to displacethe second locking hub from the locked position to the unlockedposition.
 56. The method of claim 47, further comprising: erasing dataindicative of one or more operational aspects of an external devicepowered by the first portable electrical energy storage device from theone or more non-transitory storage media carried by the first portableelectrical energy storage device.
 57. The method of claim 56, furthercomprising: erasing the data indicative of the one or more operationalaspects of the external device via a communications interfacecommunicably coupled to the controller.
 58. The method of claim 48,wherein validating the subscription plan based on the second portion ofthe data comprises: transmitting the second portion of the data to aback-end system; and receiving a confirmation from the back-end systemregarding validity of the subscription plan.
 59. The method of claim 48,further comprising: responsive to unsuccessfully validating the secondportion of the data, causing a display on a display device communicablycoupled to the controller, data indicative of the unsuccessfulvalidation; generating a request for a subscriber to perform one or moreactions to restore the subscription plan; and responsive to receipt ofdata indicative that the subscription plan is restored, enabling thesecond portable electrical energy storage device to be removed from thesecond charging module.
 60. A portable electrical energy storage devicecharging and distribution system, the system comprises: a controller; afirst charging module coupled to the controller and configured toreceive and charge a first portable electrical energy storage device;and a second charging module coupled to the controller and configured toreceive and charge a second portable electrical energy storage device;wherein the controller is configured to: retrieve data from one or morenon-transitory storage media carried by the first portable electricalenergy storage device; authenticate the first portable electrical energystorage device based on a first portion of the data; and responsive tosuccessfully authenticating the first portable electrical energy storagedevice and responsive to successfully validating the subscription plan,store a second portion of the data in a second portable electricalenergy storage device positioned in a second charging module of thesystem.
 61. The system of claim 60, wherein the controller is furtherconfigured to: validate a subscription plan based on the second portionof the data; and responsive to successfully authenticating the firstportable electrical energy storage device and responsive to successfullyvalidating the subscription plan, store the second portion of the datain the second portable electrical energy storage device positioned inthe second charging module of the system and enabling the secondportable electrical energy storage device to be removed from the secondcharging module.
 62. The system of claim 60, wherein the first andsecond charging modules are two of a plurality of charging modules ofthe system, and wherein each of the charging modules comprises: ahousing configured to receive a portable electrical energy storagedevice; and a housing door axially displaceable along a longitudinalaxis of the housing from a first position proximate an entrance of thehousing to a second position proximate a base of the housing.
 63. Thesystem of claim 62, wherein the housing door includes an apertureconfigured to enable the portable electrical energy storage device toelectrically couple to an electric contact projecting from the base ofthe housing.
 64. The system of claim 63, wherein each of the chargingmodules comprises: a displaceable cover operably coupled to the housingdoor and to the housing such that as the housing door is displaced fromthe first position to the second position, the displaceable cover isdisplaced from a closed position to an open position.
 65. The system ofclaim 60, wherein the first portable electrical energy storage device isreceived in an interior space defined by a housing of the first chargingmodule, and wherein the first charging module includes a housing dooraxially displaceable along a longitudinal axis of the housing from afirst position proximate an entrance of the housing to a second positionproximate a base of the housing.
 66. The system of claim 65, wherein thefirst portable electrical energy storage device is electrically coupledto an electric contact projecting from the base of the housing andpassing through an aperture in the housing door.